Written Answers Monday 4 October 2010

Scottish Executive

Benefits

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding will be lost to local authorities as a result of the proposed reduction in housing benefit for people in temporary accommodation, broken down by local authority.

Alex Neil: This information is not held centrally. I have raised my concerns about this particular issue with Lord Freud, Minister for Welfare Reform. We are now setting up a working group with representation from COSLA, housing service providers and other key stakeholders. Feedback from this group will help inform our understanding of the potential impact in Scotland, which we will continue to communicate to DWP.

Benefits

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has researched what impact the UK Government’s proposed changes in housing benefit and Local Housing Allowance will have on tenants.

Alex Neil: Detailed work has begun to assess the full extent of the impact in Scotland. This includes setting up a working group to assess the impact of reforms in Scotland. We are concerned that the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) and other Whitehall departments have yet to scope out the wider policy implications of many of the reform proposals that are likely to arise as a result. As such, we will continue to communicate our findings and concerns to DWP.

Benefits

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many tenants will face a reduction in Local Housing Allowance as a result of changes proposed by the UK Government.

Alex Neil: The data collated so far indicates that 97% of housing benefit claimants receiving Local Housing Allowance will be affected by the housing benefit reforms. DWP estimate around 50,000 households could be affected Scotland, losing an average of £10 per week as a result of the changes.

Benefits

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many tenants will face a reduction in housing benefit as a result of changes proposed by the UK Government.

Alex Neil: Only private sector tenants who receive Local Housing Allowance will be affected by the first tranche of reforms when they are brought in April 2011. The Department of Work and Pensions estimate this will affect around 50,000 households in Scotland. The UK Government has yet to provide details on the second tranche of housing benefit reforms, making it difficult at present to gauge the number of social rented sector claimants that might be affected.

Benefits

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has commissioned research on the impact on the Scottish economy of the UK Government’s proposed changes in housing benefit and Local Housing Allowance.

Alex Neil: We are considering these issues. Further clarity is needed from the UK Government on the second tranche of reforms (planned for 2013) to enable a robust assessment of the impact of housing benefit changes on Scotland’s economy.

Broadcasting

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken arising from the findings of the report of the Scottish Broadcasting Commission.

Fiona Hyslop: As indicated in my statement to the Parliament on Wednesday 29 September 2010 the Scottish Government’s Second Annual Report on Progress on implementing the Scottish Broadcasting Commission’s recommendations has now been published.

  The report can be found on the Scottish Government’s website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/ArtsCultureSport/arts/Broadcasting/SBCProgressReports.

Broadcasting

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to report to the Parliament on progress of the implementation of the recommendations of the Scottish Broadcasting Commission.

Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35854 on 4 October 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Cancer

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of osteosarcoma have been recorded in each of the last five years.

Nicola Sturgeon: The number of cases of osteosarcoma (cancer of the bone and articular cartilage) recorded by the Scottish Cancer Registry in each of the last five years can be found at:

  http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/servlet/FileBuffer?namedFile=i_cancer_bone_conn.xls&pContentDispositionType=inline.

  The most recent year for which complete numbers of cases are available is 2007. Also note that the data available on the website were correct as of 15 December 2009 and may differ from other published data relating to the same time period. This is all due to cancer registration being a dynamic process.

Care of Elderly People

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many hospital admissions of patients aged 60 and over there have been in each year since 2000, broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: Table 1 shows the number of acute hospital inpatient and day case episodes for patients aged 60 and over for each year since 2000, broken down by NHS board of residence. Table 2 shows acute hospital inpatient and day case episodes for patients aged 60 and over as a percentage of all acute hospital episodes, broken down by NHS health board of residence.

  A hospital episode is counted when a patient is discharged from hospital, but also when a patient is transferred between hospitals, is transferred to a different specialty, is moved to a different significant facility (e.g. moved from a standard ward to an intensive care unit) or is transferred to the care of a different consultant.

  Table 1 - Number of Acute Hospital Episodes for Patients Aged 60 and Over by NHS Health Board of Residence, Calendar Years 2000-09

  

 
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009


Scotland
570,424
576,645
567,252
584,012
612,419
622,934
650,235
676,193
707,232
719,677


NHS Board of Residence
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Ayrshire and Arran
43,809
45,826
45,101
46,387
50,356
51,891
53,730
54,915
58,176
61,031


Borders
13,096
13,033
12,335
12,523
13,463
14,683
15,591
15,837
16,141
16,246


Dumfries and Galloway
18,855
19,246
17,642
17,567
18,604
19,989
21,305
22,891
23,967
25,060


Fife
42,021
42,162
40,448
41,399
43,577
43,447
47,257
49,594
49,783
50,062


Forth Valley
27,517
28,036
27,491
24,911
25,915
26,447
28,251
28,177
27,758
28,683


Grampian
52,833
50,825
48,184
50,750
50,779
51,354
52,379
54,093
58,518
63,897


Greater Glasgow and Clyde
145,715
149,844
150,453
156,285
163,473
163,838
169,371
178,792
186,115
185,123


Highland
35,327
35,717
36,339
38,941
41,105
42,407
46,007
48,538
49,679
50,832


Lanarkshire
58,809
64,427
69,700
73,242
76,498
76,804
79,723
82,446
87,338
89,985


Lothian
79,176
76,775
70,164
70,576
76,567
79,226
82,441
85,289
91,286
90,966


Orkney Islands
1,747
1,864
2,267
2,357
2,396
2,635
3,018
3,794
3,616
3,739


Shetland Islands
1,911
2,108
2,089
2,147
2,425
2,472
2,514
2,373
2,476
2,333


Tayside
45,972
42,846
40,953
42,807
43,148
43,658
44,411
44,881
47,604
46,451


Western Isles
3,636
3,936
4,086
4,120
4,113
4,083
4,237
4,573
4,775
5,269



  Source: ISD Scotland, SMR01.

  Table 2 - Acute Hospital Episodes for Patients Aged 60 and Over as a Percentage of all Acute Hospital Episodes by NHS Health Board of Residence, Calendar Years 2000-09

  

 
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009


Scotland
46.8
47.3
47.9
48.8
49.6
49.7
50.0
50.8
51.3
51.5


NHS Board of Residence
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Ayrshire and Arran
46.6
47.6
48.2
48.7
50.4
51.0
51.0
51.0
52.0
52.8


Borders
51.0
50.7
49.8
51.7
52.2
53.9
54.4
54.3
54.0
54.9


Dumfries and Galloway
51.9
52.4
53.2
53.8
54.8
54.8
55.8
57.2
57.9
58.4


Fife
47.7
48.2
48.4
48.7
49.6
48.9
49.7
51.3
52.5
52.2


Forth Valley
44.6
43.9
44.9
45.4
47.3
48.0
49.8
49.5
49.5
50.3


Grampian
46.3
46.3
46.7
47.3
48.0
48.1
48.2
48.8
49.2
50.6


Greater Glasgow and Clyde
47.1
47.6
48.4
49.7
50.2
50.0
50.1
50.8
51.0
50.6


Highland
48.5
49.5
50.2
51.3
51.5
52.2
53.6
54.4
54.8
55.5


Lanarkshire
43.6
45.0
46.8
48.3
49.2
49.6
49.2
50.2
50.7
50.6


Lothian
46.0
46.4
46.1
46.6
47.5
47.4
47.6
48.4
49.3
49.3


Orkney Islands
45.3
48.6
50.7
49.4
50.2
51.6
55.5
59.6
56.9
58.2


Shetland Islands
39.4
39.9
40.8
42.5
44.6
43.4
43.4
44.0
45.5
40.7


Tayside
49.6
49.1
49.2
50.0
50.2
50.3
49.9
51.1
51.6
51.6


Western Isles
50.1
52.0
50.8
50.4
51.8
52.3
52.3
55.8
55.9
59.0



  Source: ISD Scotland, SMR01.

Care of Elderly People

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the impact that free personal care has had in terms of reducing hospital admissions among older patients.

Nicola Sturgeon: This information is not currently available. We are however developing better links between existing data collected by the NHS and local authorities to improve both how we measure, and achieve, better outcomes for older people.

Energy

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made in providing a register for non-domestic energy performance certificates as required under section 10 of the Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2008.

Stewart Stevenson: There is no legislation that specifically requires a register for non-domestic energy performance certificates. However, officials are currently exploring the options for a register.

Energy

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that there are disadvantages in not having a register for non-domestic energy performance certificates.

Stewart Stevenson: Generally, no. However, there could be disadvantages if a register was adopted which was not robust and cost-effective, particularly in demanding financial circumstances.

Energy

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers the benefits are of having a register of energy performance certificates for non-domestic properties.

Stewart Stevenson: A register could be useful in the delivery of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive 2010/31/EU recast. A public consultation on implementation of this European legislation will be issued in the first half of 2011.

Energy

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has carried out an analysis of the register of non-domestic energy performance certificates used in England and Wales.

Stewart Stevenson: No, but officials will explore this as an option.

Energy

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what method it uses to measure the (a) emissions output and (b) energy consumption of non-domestic property stock.

Stewart Stevenson: Assessment of the approximate carbon emissions and energy consumption of non-domestic buildings is undertaken using the National Calculation Methodology (NCM) which ensures that such assessments comply with European Directive 2002/91/EC Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD).

Food

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what support it has given to the development of skills in the food and drink industry, particularly in relation to niche food manufacturers.

Richard Lochhead: We are working with key industry partners, public agencies and the sector skills councils to support skills development across the food and drink supply chain through the Food and Drink Skills Strategy Group.

Fuel Poverty

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications there have been for Stage Four measures under the Energy Assistance Package; how many (a) were rejected, (b) were withdrawn and (c) are under consideration; for how many (i) the improvement work has been completed, (ii) the improvement work is underway, (iii) surveys have been undertaken but the improvement work has yet to start, (iv) surveys have yet to start, and what the average time is from the submission of an application to the completion of the improvement work, broken down by local authority area.

Alex Neil: 15,066 applications were referred to Stage Four of the Energy Assistance Package in the financial year 2009-10. Of these, five were duplicates, leaving 15,061.   Of these 15,061 applications, by the end of August 2010:

  a. 2,799 had been rejected because they were not eligible and a further 696 were cancelled before the initial screening process because the managing agent was unable to reach the customer, total 3,495;

  b. 2,160 had been withdrawn, and

  c. None were still under consideration.

  i. 7,910 had received installations;

  ii. 1,031 had work underway;

  iii. 465 have had surveys undertaken but improvement work yet to start;

  iv. None still had surveys yet to start.

  The average time from referral to Stage 4 to installation was 68 days. An analysis by local authority area is given in the following table:

  Energy Assistance Package: 2009-10 Stage 4 Applications Received and Processed by Local Authority Area: Status at End August 2010

  

 
Applications
a.Rejected
b.Withdrawn
Stage 4 Measures
Average Delivery Time (Working Days)


i.Installed
ii.Under-way
iii.Surveyed, Work Yet to Start


Aberdeen City 
349
87
38
198
17
9
75


Aberdeenshire
563
106
77
308
52
20
89


Angus
390
82
67
207
21
13
69


Argyll and Bute
404
70
81
198
38
17
96


Clackmannanshire
94
22
7
62
3
0
64


Dumfries and Galloway
713
117
154
367
50
25
93


Dundee City
506
114
55
312
16
9
55


East Ayrshire
240
53
34
145
4
4
58


East Dunbartonshire
302
90
52
156
2
2
54


East Lothian
222
46
37
121
12
6
65


East Renfrewshire
272
70
47
145
5
5
57


Edinburgh, City of
920
248
155
466
34
17
61


Eilean Siar
1,045
188
172
294
278
113
90


Falkirk
375
106
35
220
8
6
64


Fife
1,062
257
146
589
46
24
66


Glasgow City
1,209
356
153
667
22
11
55


Highland
1,262
267
175
565
185
70
88


Inverclyde
209
58
30
112
9
0
60


Midlothian
188
42
20
112
4
10
53


Moray
288
49
42
176
18
3
82


North Ayrshire
429
102
50
254
11
12
65


North Lanarkshire
692
166
65
442
9
10
53


Orkney Islands
141
26
28
42
39
6
82


Perth and Kinross
434
81
57
247
30
19
72


Renfrewshire
343
89
40
203
5
6
56


Scottish Borders
343
61
59
191
24
8
83


Shetland Islands
55
10
8
10
19
8
152


South Ayrshire
322
61
65
178
10
8
64


South Lanarkshire
771
208
90
434
33
6
60


Stirling
466
124
64
244
19
15
59


West Dunbartonshire
224
72
25
123
2
2
59


West Lothian
228
67
32
122
6
1
59


Scotland
15,061
3,495
2,160
7,910
1,031
465
68

Health

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS Lanarkshire records inpatient bed numbers available on a monthly basis.

Nicola Sturgeon: Information Services Division (ISD) collects data on hospital beds on a monthly basis from all health boards however the official publication of central beds statistics is presented by financial year. The latest information on bed statistics (for the financial years 2000-01 to 2009-10) can be found on the ISD website at: http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/3425.htm l.

Health

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many inpatient beds there were in NHS Lanarkshire in (a) April, (b) May, (c) June, (d) July and (e) August 2010, broken down by (i) specialism and (ii) hospital.

Nicola Sturgeon: The requested information is not centrally available. Latest information on annual bed statistics for the financial years 2000-01 to 2009-10 can be found on the ISD website at:

  http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/3425.html.

  The next update of these statistics which will include beds information for 2010-11 will be published in June 2011.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has undertaken to ensure that visually impaired people have equal treatment in the New Ways waiting times system.

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps NHS boards have taken to ensure that correspondence regarding hospital appointments is in larger type or other alternative formats, such as Braille or audio, so that it is accessible to visually impaired people.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Audit Scotland report on Managing NHS waiting lists: A review of new arrangement published in March 2010, recommended the need to "improve systems of recording patient’s additional needs and put appropriate support in place for those who need it" and "ensure that communications with patients takes account of any need for additional support and tailor information to meet these needs".

  The Director General of Health and Chief Executive of NHS Scotland wrote to NHS board chief executives in May asking them to undertake an urgent review of their current local policies and indentify the actions required to ensure information on additional needs and the necessary support services are recorded and transmitted across the NHS, particularly between primary and secondary care. It also asked that they must ensure that additional support, including different types of documentation/communication formats are in place to ensure that patients’ with additional needs, including visually impaired people, have no delay in accessing health care. Officials continue to monitor the implementation of NHS boards planned actions.

Health

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many vacant posts there are for clinicians able to provide specialist opinion and treatment for back conditions, broken down by NHS board area.

Nicola Sturgeon: Information on vacancies for clinicians able to provide specialist opinion and treatment for back conditions in NHS Scotland is not specifically held. However, information on consultant vacancies by specialty is collected by National Services Scotland, Information Services Division (ISD) Scotland. Latest total consultant vacancies as at 30 September 2009 are available at:

  http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/servlet/FileBuffer?namedFile=Consultant_Vacancies_2009.xls&pContentDispositionType=attachment.

Health

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how NHS National Services Scotland will be affected by the new Advisory Group for National Specialised Services in England.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Advisory Group for National Specialised Services (AGNSS) has recently been established in England to replace the National Commissioning Group which provided advice to the Department of Health on highly specialist health services. Scottish interests are represented on this group through observer attendance by the Director or Medical Director of National Services Division.

  The Scottish Government will continue to be advised about specialist health services for patients in Scotland by the National Services Advisory Group. The bodies with responsibility for providing advice about newly licensed medicines and new technologies remain the Scottish Medicines Consortium and the Scottish Health Technologies Group respectively. These bodies will be informed about developments in AGNSS through its Scottish representation.

Sport

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost is of the Active Nation campaign.

Nicola Sturgeon: Active Nation was launched on 1 March 2010 as the flagship Games Legacy public engagement programme to get Scots active in the run up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games and beyond. The spend for Active Nation for 2009-10 was £150,000 which covered the development of the Active Nation brand and guidelines, developed a stakeholder toolkit, and provided PR around the Active Nation launch - including the partnership with Sport Relief. The budget for Active Nation for 2010-11 is £205,000. The budget for future years will be determined as part of the 2010 Spending Review.

Sport

Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what support it gives to the development of rugby.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government through sportscotland provides financial and other support to Scottish Rugby to support the development of rugby. In addition, Scottish Rugby was also awarded funding over three years through the Cashback for Communities initiative to provide activities for young people to take part in rugby.

Whisky Industry

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what review it has undertaken of the contribution made to the Scottish economy by the whisky industry.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has not undertaken its own review of the contribution made to the Scottish economy by the whisky industry as other organisations have. For example, the Scotch Whisky Association recently published The Economic Impact of Scotch Whisky Production in Scotland, which can be found at the following link:

  http://www.scotch-whisky.org.uk/swa/files/EconomicImpactReportMay2010.pdf.